An Israeli court acquitted Yona Schreiber, a Jewish man who attacked a French nun in Jerusalem's Old City in April 2026. The incident, captured on CCTV, sparked widespread condemnation and concerns over rising harassment of Christian clergy in the area.

Jerusalem Magistrates Court determined that Schreiber was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the assault, which involved pushing over and kicking the nun. The victim sustained a bruised face and leg after hitting her head on a stone block. Schreiber, 36, had been charged with assault motivated by hostility towards a religious group.

According to the district psychiatrist's report, Schreiber "was in a psychotic state at the time of the act and is not substantively fit to stand trial." Judge Ofir Tishler ruled that although Schreiber committed the attack, he was not criminally responsible due to his mental health and ordered him to be sent to a psychiatric hospital for up to six years.

The attack heightened concerns about a surge in animosity towards Christianity in Jerusalem. A 2025 report by the Rossing Center, a Jerusalem-based organization promoting inter-faith relations in the Holy Land, attributed this to "a continued deepening of polarisation and ultra-nationalist political trends."

Israel's foreign ministry condemned the assault and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding freedom of religion and worship for all faiths, stating on X that Jerusalem remains a city where every community can live, pray, and practice their faith in safety and dignity.

Sources